Common Errors and Pitfalls in Interpretation of the Adult Chest Radiograph

Abstract

In Brief The chest radiograph is the most commonly performed radiologic examination and is the imaging study that the majority of nonradiologist physicians are most likely to encounter in their clinical practice. Chest radiography, however, can be very complex and difficult to interpret accurately due to abnormalities that are quite subtle, technical variations, superimposing normal structures, and a myriad of normal anatomic variations. This article reviews and illustrates common errors made and pitfalls encountered in interpretation of the chest radiograph and is organized by the compartments of the thorax. Radiographic illustrations of many key points are provided, with CT correlation as appropriate. The chest radiograph, while the most commonly performed radiologic examination, can be one of the most complex and most difficult to interpret. This article reviews and illustrates common errors made and pitfalls encountered in interpretation of the chest radiograph.